Photoflex LiteBloghttps://photoflex.com/
enlinda@photoflex.comCopyright 20152015-07-28T14:00:58+00:00Working With Constant Lightinghttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/working-with-constant-lighting
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/working-with-constant-lighting#When:14:00:58Z
Continuous lighting (also known as constant lighting) has been a photography mainstay since the beginning of the industry. With what-you-see-is-what-you-get results, constant light sources are convenient and easy to use. In this article we explore the Legacy StarLite 3200 in a variety of lighting scenarios to illustrate how it performs. It's important to note that this is the first version StarLite, prior to 2007. This model does not have the quick-release function to remove the softbox connector; rather it uses a manual set pin seen on the top of the unit. It also uses a wing handle swivel; unlike the...
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]]>2015-07-28T14:00:58+00:00Improving Macro Photography with Photoflex LiteDiscshttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/improving-macro-photography-with-photoflex-litediscs
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/improving-macro-photography-with-photoflex-litediscs#When:15:00:38Z
When shooting a wildlife image outdoors, an abundance or lack of sunshine can be a challenge to work with in terms of highlights, shadows, contrast and detail. Photoflex LiteDiscs offer a variety of surfaces and are easy to work with to solve many of these challenges.
Often it is convenient to shoot outdoors during the mid afternoon, however, at this time of day, sunlight tends to be directly overhead and way too bright. This harsh overhead sunlight results in distracting shadows and highlights as well as and an overall lack of detail and texture due to the increase in contrast....
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]]>2015-07-21T15:00:38+00:00FlexFlash 200W: The Biggest Bang for Your Buckhttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/flexflash-200w-the-biggest-bang-for-your-buck
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/flexflash-200w-the-biggest-bang-for-your-buck#When:14:00:50Z
When it comes to a photographer’s bag of tricks, versatility is key. Many factors come together to make a great photo possible and at times these factors can be obstacles. From unexpected weather to equipment failure, it is important to be prepared for any scenario.
The FlexFlash 200W monobloc strobe is one of the most versatile lights on the market today. This lightweight strobe is powerful enough to give you a wide range of lighting options without taking up too much space in your kit. Winner of Professional Photographer’s Hot One award in 2014, this little...
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]]>2015-07-14T14:00:50+00:00George Wilson: Mastering White Balance, Part 2http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-mastering-white-balance-part-2
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-mastering-white-balance-part-2#When:18:01:35Z
Recently I covered the basics of white balance in an article that focused on achieving accurate color in your images. This is certainly the most important aspect of white balance in today’s DSLR’s. Just as we strive for accurate color representation, there may also be times that we wish to alter the colorcast to help create a mood, feeling or perception. Remember, light has color because light has an associated temperature.
Different types of photographs and different photographers express moods and feelings differently. If you were to assemble 10 photographers in a room, you just might...
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]]>2015-07-06T18:01:35+00:00Scott Trees: Photographing Horses With The Help Of Diffusionhttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/scott-trees-photographing-horses-with-the-help-of-diffusion
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/scott-trees-photographing-horses-with-the-help-of-diffusion#When:17:00:54Z
For the variety of subjects I shoot, I generally prefer a soft light. However, it is not unusual that the time demands during an assignment dictate that I shoot with a higher and brighter light than I prefer. It then becomes essential to have the capability to place a diffusion screen between the light source and my subject, which for me is most often the sun.
When I need that sort of diffusion the Photoflex 52” Translucent LiteDisc is a convenient and easy-to-use solution. It is a good size for a variety of subjects, can be mounted on...
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]]>2015-03-02T17:00:54+00:00Jay P Morgan: 5 Lighting Setups for Your Home or Office Studiohttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p-morgan-5-lighting-setups-for-your-home-or-office-studio
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p-morgan-5-lighting-setups-for-your-home-or-office-studio#When:15:00:26Z
Today on the LiteBlog, Jay P Morgan shows us some simple lighting setups for a home or office studio, using affordable lights that cost under $300. For this demonstration, Jay P is using the FirstStudio Portrait Kit from Photoflex that offers the basics needed for some nice options in-studio. To get started Jay P set up a white seamless backdrop in his dining room to show how easy and achievable this setup is.
Setup #1: One Light Key Setup
For the first setup, Jay P set up one light with an umbrella as the key light on camera-right. You will...
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]]>2015-02-25T15:00:26+00:00Jon Haase: Solving food photography challenges with the Photoflex LiteIgloohttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jon-haase-solving-food-photography-challenges-with-the-photoflex-liteigloo
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jon-haase-solving-food-photography-challenges-with-the-photoflex-liteigloo#When:14:00:09Z
The Photoflex FirstStudio LiteIgloo is the photographer’s answer to almost all of food photography’s lighting challenges. How can you shoot on location and get even lighting when there are many overhead lights? How can you avoid having to carry multiple soft boxes to an on-location shoot? How can you avoid harsh shadows and blown highlights? How can you keep from showing ugly backgrounds as you shoot from a lower angle to your subject?
I’ll show you how to use the Photoflex FirstStudio LiteIgloo to solve all of these issues by demonstrating...
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]]>2015-02-23T14:00:09+00:00George Wilson: Portrait of a Parrot in Black and White.http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-portrait-of-a-parrot-in-black-and-white
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-portrait-of-a-parrot-in-black-and-white#When:15:00:53Z
Black and white imagery is the root of my photographic passion. Years ago, the darkroom was my second home where I patiently coaxed images from the paper and experimented with different mixtures and chemicals to increase contrast as well bring out hidden tonal values. Every print had a life of its own as it was conceived when the light was captured on a piece of Lucite, born in when the enlarger lit up and nurtured in the chemical baths.
There has long been a saying and I have heard it from numerous people – color is for fashion, while Black...
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]]>2015-02-18T15:00:53+00:00Scott Trees: Photographing Horses with the 5-in1 MultiDisc Reflectorhttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/scott-trees-photographing-horses-with-the-5-in1-multidisc-reflector
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/scott-trees-photographing-horses-with-the-5-in1-multidisc-reflector#When:15:00:08Z
After 44 years of international shooting, I have learned to travel light when flying, and I try and have as much of my “must have” gear available to use the moment I land. This means I carry my camera bag on-board and what additional shooting accessories I need in my suitcase and/or in an additional equipment case. Photoflex LiteDiscs are compact and easy to pack in a suitcase and I don’t travel to any of my assignments, including my international sessions, without packing several of them.
I primarily utilize natural light in my work and...
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]]>2015-02-16T15:00:08+00:00JP Morgan: Using a Motivated Key Lighthttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jp-morgan-using-a-motivated-key-light
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jp-morgan-using-a-motivated-key-light#When:16:00:38Z
A few months ago, Jay P Morgan did a fantasy portrait with a woman holding an umbrella in the wind. While he was on this set, he took some time to shoot elements for another image. Check out how he brings a new fantasy image to life below.
A few months ago, Jay P Morgan did a fantasy portrait with a woman holding an umbrella in the wind. While he was on this set, he took some time to shoot another image using the same set elements. Check out how he brings a new fantasy image to life.
To get...
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]]>2015-02-10T16:00:38+00:00Jay P Morgan: Snoot Basicshttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p-morgan-snoot-basics
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p-morgan-snoot-basics#When:17:00:48Z
Today Jay P Morgan answers the age-old question, “What is a snoot?” A snoot is a funny name for a piece of equipment that fits over a studio light or portable flash and allows the photographer to control the direction or area of coverage of the light. In film, black wraps are used to create snoots – basically black aluminum foil that can be formed into a funnel and molded to the light.
So what is the area of coverage with a snoot? This is a hard question to answer since there are many different sizes from different...
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]]>2015-02-04T17:00:48+00:00George Wilson: In search of the Dynamic Wildlife Imagehttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-in-search-of-the-dynamic-wildlife-image
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-in-search-of-the-dynamic-wildlife-image#When:14:00:07Z
For me, wildlife photography is a window into a world of animal behavior that few people understand. Fewer even take the time to enjoy and still fewer enjoy photographing wildlife. Over the years I have learned to create technically good images, but until I began to understand wildlife, those images were plain and devoid of “life”. Through the journey of the evolution of my photographic skills, I have learned something new almost every time I have ventured into the field.
When working with wildlife, you must consider the following items:
Shooting Angle: When photographing wildlife, the subject&rsquo...
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]]>2015-02-02T14:00:07+00:00Jay P Morgan: Understanding Gridshttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p-morgan-understanding-grids
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p-morgan-understanding-grids#When:14:00:33Z
For this assignment Jay P Morgan shot at the YouTube Space for the first time. He was going for a film noir look so he experimented using grids and strobe heads. This article shows how Jay P used grids to his advantage and demonstrates how you can mix them with tungsten light.
Grids are honeycomb metal inserts that fit inside of a strobe reflector. They restrict the area of light coverage and help give you more control.
First, Jay P took a look at how the different sizes of grid light with a subject against a white wall. In the...
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]]>2015-01-19T14:00:33+00:00Bending Light: 7 Ways to Use the Photoflex 7-in-1 MultiDisc Reflectorhttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/bending-light-7-ways-to-use-the-7-in-1-multidisc-reflector
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/bending-light-7-ways-to-use-the-7-in-1-multidisc-reflector#When:16:31:54Z
Reflectors are a great way to add or subtract light in many different lighting scenarios. As a photographer myself, I always have at least one reflector at every shoot. With the 7-in-1 MultiDisc Reflector you have even more control over tricky lighting situations. This article will focus on 7 main ways you can manipulate light with reflection and diffusion to get the results you want.
1. White Reflection
Let’s start with the most basic method of reflecting light, the white surface. White reflectors are very versatile and can come in handy with a variety of lighting challenges. Most often they...
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]]>2015-01-15T16:31:54+00:00George Wilson: Mastering White Balancehttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/mastering-white-balance-by-george-wilson
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/mastering-white-balance-by-george-wilson#When:23:38:55Z
Photography is about light. I learned this years ago, when I began to capture images on film. I was careful then to observe the light and of course take notice of the light temperature. Film, darkroom chemicals and paper were expensive. I was on a budget, as I still am today. Technology has now come a long way from using either daylight or tungsten rated film with color correction filters. I have hung onto these and they reside in a small corner of my photo closet, mostly for nostalgic reasons. Technology has made some great advances in photography, but I...
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]]>2015-01-08T23:38:55+00:00Jay P Morgan: Photographing Christmas Lightshttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p-morgan-photographing-christmas-lights
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p-morgan-photographing-christmas-lights#When:16:34:54Z
To help get into the holiday spirit, Jay P Morgan and the Slanted Lens crew set out to photograph Christmas lights, as well as a Christmas portrait series. This post, the first of two, focuses on photographing the Christmas lights alone. The next post will illustrate how Jay P incorporates a portrait into the shot.
There are a few basic things that will allow you to take great photographs of Christmas lights this holiday season:
1. Time of Day. The best time to photograph outdoor Christmas lights is at dusk while there is still a little daylight. When the...
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]]>2014-12-11T16:34:54+00:00George Wilson: Take a Picture, Make a Photographhttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-take-a-picture-make-a-photograph
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-take-a-picture-make-a-photograph#When:13:41:44Z
I often don’t venture beyond my own backyard to make my photographs. Some have been great and popular images, while others, although very good images, languish in my files waiting for a buyer.
As I cross my patio and step into the deep green grass, I smell the fresh Florida air. November air is fresh and clear, not bound by the humidity of the summer months. I live in the city but my backyard offers a short break from the world around me. I have made a myriad of photographs here, including some nights under the stars. Just...
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]]>2014-12-08T13:41:44+00:00George Simian: Shooting Night Portraits on Locationhttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-simian-shooting-night-portraits-on-location
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-simian-shooting-night-portraits-on-location#When:16:31:13Z
On November 8th of this year, we took our Location Lighting workshop to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles, as we’ve done before, using battery-powered strobes from Photoflex. But this time, we did it at night.
Urban streets typically have interesting lighting at night, mostly signage and ads, some neon, and some continuous lights that make for fascinating backgrounds. However, there’s never enough light reaching the sidewalk for a high-quality portrait. That’s where a battery-powered strobe comes in.
We used two different lights to serve as the main lights for the subjects. The first...
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]]>2014-11-26T16:31:13+00:00Jay P. Morgan: One Light Dramatic Portraits On Locationhttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p.-morgan-one-light-dramatic-portraits-on-location
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/jay-p.-morgan-one-light-dramatic-portraits-on-location#When:14:47:43Z
For this shoot, Jay P. Morgan traveled to coastal Maine to photograph commecrial fishermen. The goal was to demonstrate one light dramatic portraits on location working solo. Jay P only had his traveling partner Julene shooting behind-the-scenes footage, but otherwise he shot alone, without his usual Slanted Lens crew.
My Run and Gun Setup
For this shoot, I used a Photoflex TritonFlash on a stand with an OctoDome that had a soft Grid attached to it. I choose this setup a lot because it is small and easy to move around. The footprint isn’t very big and...
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]]>2014-11-26T14:47:43+00:00George Wilson: Wild Horseshttp://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-wild-horses
http://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/george-wilson-wild-horses#When:15:20:53Z
September for me means South Dakota and wild horses. I typically spend the month walking among the herds at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. It is there that I guide other photographers up close to these magnificent animals, imparting bits and pieces of photographic information and equine photography tips. The sanctuary is home to more than 500 wild mustangs running free across 11,000 acres of grasslands, canyons and the Cheyenne River. Founded in 1988 by Dayton O. Hyde, it is a non-profit organization that receives no state or federal funding. The time I spend there among the galloping herds is both a...
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